Method for manufacturing counterweights

Abstract

A work piece and a method for making the work piece from a plurality of grains of substantially cohesive scrap metal grains or granules is disclosed. The method includes providing scrap metal as a raw material, gathering a predetermined amount of the raw material to form a charge, and compressing the charge under a predetermined amount of heat and pressure to provide a substantially cohesive form. To aid with the cohesion, the charge may be enclosed within a polymeric container or bag which acts as a lubricant during the compression stage and as a binder to aid in keeping the scrap metal together in a cohesive form.

1 . A method for forming an object from scrap metal, comprising the steps of: 
 Obtaining scrap metal;    organizing the scrap metal into predetermined classes based upon at least one characteristic of the scrap metal;    forming a charge from at least one of said predetermined classes of scrap metal; and    compressing said charge into a predetermined shape.    
   
   
       2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of enclosing said charge within a polymeric container.  
   
   
       3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing contaminants from the scrap metal prior to the step of forming the charge.  
   
   
       4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising lubricating the charge during the step of compressing.  
   
   
       5 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining scrap metal includes at least one of acquiring the scrap metal from a third party and gathering the scrap metal as a result of a bi-product internally.  
   
   
       6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein organizing the scrap based upon at least one characteristic comprises sorting the scrap metal based upon one of size, type, and grade.  
   
   
       7 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a charge includes defining a predetermined amount of the scrap metal using a predetermined metric.  
   
   
       8 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the step of compressing the charge comprises subjecting the charge to a predetermined amount of pressure and heat to cause the scrap metal to remain in a cohesive form.  
   
   
       9 . The method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the step of compressing causes the container to act as a binder.  
   
   
       10 . The method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the step of compressing includes flowing at least a portion of the container around at least a portion of the scrap metal.  
   
   
       11 . The method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the step of compressing comprises melting at least a portion of the container into a least a portion of the scrap metal.  
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the step of removing contaminants includes at least one of cleaning the scrap metal and sorting the scrap metal based upon meal type.  
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the step of lubricating comprises the step of placing the scrap metal within a polymer.  
   
   
       14 . A method for making a non-structural work piece, comprising the steps of: 
 providing scrap metal as a raw material;    sorting the raw material into at least one class based upon at least one criterion;    enclosing a predetermined amount of the raw material in a container to form a charge; and    pressing the charge into a predetermined shape.    
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising lubricating said charge during the step of pressing.  
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising providing a polymer to at least partially surround the raw material during the step of compressing.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the step of compressing including producing a briquette.  
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the step of compressing includes the step of cold forging.  
   
   
       19 . A method for making metallic work pieces, comprising the steps of: 
 providing scrap metal as a raw material;    enclosing a predetermined amount of the raw material in a polymeric bag to form a charge; and    compressing each charge under a predetermined amount of pressure into a predetermined work piece.    
   
   
       20 . A work piece, comprising: 
 a plurality of grains of scrap metal compressed into a substantially cohesive form; and    a polymeric material covering a substantial portion of said cohesive form and encasing at least a portion of said plurality of grains of scrap metal.